The study of flags is called vexillology. The Latin word for flag is vexillum – a vexillarius came to mean a standard-bearer.

Burning flags

Every year, the Boy Scouts of America and military veteran organisations such as the American Legion burn thousands of US flags between them. This because Section 176 (k) of the US Flag Code (a set of rules on the correct treatment of the Stars and Stripes) provides that: “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” Flag burnings (or “retirements”, to use the official term) are usually held on Flag Day, June 14.

Contrary to myth, the US flag doesn’t have to be burned if it ever touches the ground, and it’s perfectly OK to clean it if it gets dirty, rather than rushing straight to the burning option.

For many Americans, the flag functions like a ceremonial monarch, providing a non-partisan rallying point for all patriotic citizens. That’s why the US Flag Code insists that the Stars and Stripes “is itself considered a living thing”.

Flying flags

The Union Flag flies over Buckingham Palace when the Queen is not there. The same goes for Windsor Castle and Sandringham; in Scotland, the Royal Arms of Scotland is flown at Holyroodhouse and Balmoral when the Queen is not there.

Her presence, conversely, is indicated by the Royal Standard. At news of a royal death the Union Flag or Royal Arms of Scotland is flown at half-mast. The Royal Standard is never flown at half-mast, as the Sovereign does not die – a new monarch succeeds his or her predecessor immediately.

At the time of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales people asked that the Standard fly at half mast without understanding this.

Jack/flag

There is widespread confusion about the correct term for the British national flag, with many people believing it is only a “jack” when being flown at sea. According to the Flag Institute, the charitable organisation that lays down the guidelines for all things vexillological, this isn’t so: “It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use; and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. In 1908, a government minister stated, in response to a Parliamentary question, 'the Union Jack should be regarded as the national flag’.”

Interesting flags

Until 1968, the flag of the tropical Turks and Caicos Islands contained a badge which appeared to feature two igloos. The artist had mistaken two piles of salt (an important export) on an earlier version of the flag for a dwelling, and drawn a doorway. Now their flag features a lobster, a conch and a flowering cactus. The only non-rectangular national flag is the double triangle shape of Nepal’s, which was made by combining two pennants.

The flag of Belize is the only one to feature human beings. It contains a central badge with a black and a white man standing beneath a mahogany tree, to represent the country’s logging industry. Although it became an American territory in 1900 and the 50th American state in 1959, Hawaii still has the Union Jack on its flag.

Similar flags

The flags of Chad and Romania are identical (blue, red and yellow vertical stripes). Ireland and Côte d’Ivoire’s flags are identical in colour (orange, white, green stripes) but the order of the stripes is reversed. Turn an Indonesian flag upside down and it becomes a Polish flag. The Netherlands and Luxembourg both have the same order of red, white and blue horizontal stripes but the Dutch blue is darker.

Blue Peter

The real “Blue Peter” is not the flag with a ship on it as seen in the much-loved the BBC programme. In the ICS (International Code of Signals) system of maritime signal flags, it is “P” – a blue square with a white centre – and it means “We’re about to leave harbour” (or “My nets are snagged”). The BBC’s ship logo was created by Tony Hart. Hart asked for a penny for every time his design was used, but he had to settle for a flat fee of £100 instead.